| For half a century, rural Albertans have lived with sour gas development and its associated ills while mostly urbanites – and mostly a select group of Calgary urbanites who drive nice cars – reaped the majority of the economic benefits. But now that a major series of wells is being proposed on the city’s doorstep, Calgarians are finally starting to pay attention. "Figures," farmers and ranchers are probably muttering to themselves, "freaking self-absorbed city folk."
That sentiment notwithstanding, now that Calgarians – or at least some of the 250,000 who live in the area around the proposed wells that some have come to call the "death zone" – are paying attention, it’s time they start speaking out. Sour gas is a consistent cash windfall for the province, but comes with huge environmental, health and social costs.
Calgarians are accustomed to getting good news about the money petroleum development brings in, so in the wake of the Calgary sour gas proposal, we’re taking a look at some of the problems with sour gas development in Alberta. In addition to Amy Steele’s look into the proposal, we’ve also got Shaun Fluker’s examination of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board’s irresponsible refusal to look at the larger socio-economic problems associated with petroleum development. And as if to prove the profound cultural and social impacts of the industry on Alberta’s psyche, we’re also offering Martin Morrow’s review of Picnic, Ghost River Theatre’s sequel to its take on Alberta eco-vigilante Wiebo Ludwig.
Sour gas has helped make Alberta one of North America’s wealthiest jurisdictions and Calgarians are famous for their refusal to bite the hand that pads their bank accounts, but provincial regulators need to start taking a close look at all of the impacts of oil and gas development before giving projects the green light. Anyone who disagrees need only look at Alberta’s high rates of respiratory ailments; or the outrageous fates of the Graff family, the former Vulcan-area farmers who blame sour gas flaring for decimating their health and livelihood; or Peace Country nature artist Peter von Tiesenhausen, who points to sour gas to explain his family’s ill health and the near loss of his property and world-renowned art.
The provincial government has dithered, postponed and redirected serious studies of the true environmental and health impacts of sour gas development for too long – even today, after years of regulatory changes designed to make sour gas development safer, only an animal health study is underway.
Calgary is the crucial voice that has been absent from the calls for reform, but there’s no longer an excuse for remaining blissfully unaware. This isn’t a rural problem, Calgary. Go outside and take a deep breath. |
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